Though they vary in content depending on a storys genre or writing style, there is a simple structure that underpins 99% of successful book blurbs. This article gives you simple steps to follow to write a book blurb, and gives examples of both fiction and nonfiction back cover blurbs. Echo the tone of your book in your blurb so readers get a sense of how you write. Its safe to say that a wellwritten blurb is absolutely essential to your poetry books overall success and reputation. Youve written your book, but now you have to publish it and kdp has a box that you dread. Early blurbs can be key, but you need to remember that its a numbers game. A book summary is not only an indispensable element of the book, but it is crucial for marketing too here is a a definitive guide to writing book. Im by no means an expert, but it turns out i have some opinions go figure. Dont worry, in this article, well walk you through the important points to keep in mind while writing your book s blurb, as well as give you a simple blurb template that sells and some bestseller examples for different genres.
How to write an irresistible book blurb in 5 easy steps. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading writing book blurbs and synopses. Write a summary of your book if not done already, then shorten it down to its essence. If youre wondering how to do that and where to start, it involves penning multiple drafts, lots of cutting, losing your sanity, and planning your blurb with the help of these steps. Could using the distinctive voice of the narrator have improved the blurb. Work by convincing readers to take a chance on it, or. In that sense, a good blurb is anything but subjective. The blurb that appears on the back cover of your book, and on your amazon page, will either. You have one shot at introducing your story to your reader make it count.
This video from new york times bestseller alessandra torre details why your books blurb is crucially important and shares her easy equation for creating one. If you dont have a print version of your book and its only sold online, everything in this article about back book blurbs can be applied to your book description in online listings. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more blurb blog. Writing awesome book blurbs a modern indie authors guide kindle edition by terra, evo, moriarty, jeff, conlin, karen. Hopefully, the potential reader takes that allimportant next step and reads the back blurb or online description. Writing book blurbs and synopses will become a goto tool for any author, newly published or an old hand, as a means for helping you develop your own techniques for blurbs and synopses. Youll also find some useful links to websites with further information. Writing a book blurb is a little like online dating, i suppose. Writing a short book blurb is not only fun, but great practice for writing promotional copy of any kind. Writing a blurb at ks2 by jessica borges vaz on prezi. But, when youre on the other side of the requests as the author writing.
Your book blurb must be wellwritten to get a readers attention. Once your title and cover have drawn the reader in, the blurb is what is going to make the difference between a missed opportunity and a sale. How to write a killer blurb that convinces readers to buy your book the book blurb is your sales pitch. However, this task typically comes just when youre at your least able. The specific details and unexpected combinations i love conceived grudgingly are intriguing, and the. I loved scrolling through herald archives on microfilm to find historic nuggets and treasures to share with sunday readers. Many authors write the book blurb as an afterthought. How to write a blurb definition, examples, and more.
For all intents and purposes, your publisher has written this. My friend shirley showalter inspired me to write a bit more of a howto on approaching fellow writers about book blurbs. It uses twilight as an example, but dont hold that against me. Blogging, getting published, rewriting and editing. Writing a blurb the blurb is the writing on the back of a book. Writing a book blurb is harder than you think, and is an excellent way of getting yourself noticed. Although the author hasnt published any new books in recent years, they are still actively working with us to sell that book, or you wouldnt be able to find it in our online bookstore. This website and its content is subject to our terms and conditions. It entices the reader to read a book by promising twists and turns but without giving away the ending. The writers guide to book blurbs and query letters fiction writing. Writing awesome book blurbs a modern indie authors guide.
But, in our opinion, there are few better ways to figure out how to do something than by seeing how the professionals do it. Fiction or nonfiction basic blurb cover copyproduct description for fiction or nonfiction extended product description. Think about your favorite blurbs and what about them draws you in. Writing the blurb for your selfpublished book is one of the privileges of being an indie author. The blurb of your book is the second thing a potential reader will look at after the coverso take the time to get it right. One of these is creating the enticing but brief blurb that will describe your book to potential readers.
How to ask for a book blurb bittersweet book launch. Here is the opening of the first paragraph of one of my favourite fiction book blurbs, for behind the scenes at the museum by kate atkinson. When youre refining your books blurb, there is a lot you can learn from guides and expert advice. The curious history of book blurbs and why theyre still around. The content and style vary depending on the type of. How to write a book blurb is rather straightforward, but the process can be infuriating due to the emotional connection to your own work that often makes it hard to boil the story down to essentials.
We require a lead time of at least 7 days from the date you fill out the book summary questionnaire for delivery. Do not post memes or photos of booksbook shelvesbook haulsplaces that make you think of a particular book. Tes global ltd is registered in england company no 02017289 with its registered office at 26 red lion square london wc1r 4hq. Writing a book blurb for your back cover, and other promotional uses, is one of the hardest steps for many authors. Forget the book, have you read this irresistible story on blurbs. A book blurb, or the book jacket description, summarizes the best part of your book in only 150 words yep. The 5 core elements of a book blurb and why you should. Successful arts marketing blurbs contain three key elements. Hopefully both my blurbs and shout lines tell the potential. Youre setting the expectation for the book in the blurb, so make sure that your themes, ideas, and issues match. Posted on september 6, 20 by miranda beverlywhittemore. A book blurb should be a fair representation of the style of the book. Learn how to write a back book cover blurb that not only intrigues readers but gets them to buy.
Mama and papa live in a beautiful brownstone house in harlem, new york. Entwined by heather dixon wallwork, the near witch by victoria schwab, the iron daughter by julie kagawa, eve by anna care. Youve snagged a prospective date by your alluring cover, so now youve got to show theres more than just surface appeal. The writers guide to book blurbs and query letters fiction writing tools volume 6 s.
Remember that your book is about people, not setting, historical location, or scientific facts. Nightshade by jena gregoire 148 words bourbon, jazz, and streets soaked in magic. The blurb equation how to write a kickbutt blurb youtube. Your book blurb aka online description, like your dating. How to write a killer blurb that convinces readers to buy your book. Professional techniques for fiction authors writers craft volume 19 9781537280677. Fantasy book blurbs summary or tease, which do you. You need to promise an exciting read without disclosing too much. In this post, we tell you how to write a book blurb in five easy steps. The key with fiction is to excite and engage your reader. The most common issues with blurb are around customer service, which is not as good as expected by some customers. How to write a book blurb that sells with examples reedsy blog. This is because a blurb is far more about sales psychology than it is about the story it describes. Man booker prize judge colin thubron has complained this week that star endorsements bully readers into admiring books, but its long been standard.
The curious history of book blurbs and why theyre still around those snippets of praise on book covers have been around for over 150 years at least. Use imageladen words, those powerful words that speak to readers of the books genre. Art posts must be formatted as title by creator, usernames are ok. Blurbs sell shows with concise, compelling, and practical writing. The five s of blurb writing check these 5 awesome tips editage. Getting a feel for different types of blurbs can give you inspiration to write yours. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading writing awesome book blurbs a modern indie authors guide. Its the perennial question of whether the blurbs on book covers are still meaningful or have become just background noise. To each genre their own, one thing to keep in mind when it comes to writing book blurbs. Shelfies, hauls, etc may be posted in the monthly show and tell post which occurs on the 7th of each month. When writing a novel, there are few selling tools as important as a solidly written book blurb. Selfpublishing requires a writer to take on all sorts of unfamiliar tasks. Many writers find writing book blurbs really difficult. All you have to do is provide me with some information and i will write one undeniably catchy blurb.
When i was looking to get blurbs for my first book, i had asked, lets say, twenty people, ten agreed, and out of those ten, only about five of them were able to actually deliver the blurbs in a timely mannerthat could be though because we were on a time crunch and i didnt start soon enough. Make sure your book has an even number of pages, and at least 20 pages. How to write a great ya fantasy or scifi book blurb. Blurb, back cover copy, jacket copy, or promotional copy whatever you call it, a great book description is your second best marketing tool your cover is number one. Master the blurb and youll join the ranks of true marketing pros.
How to sell your manuscript to publishers and your indie book to readers writers craft 19 kindle edition by hall, rayne. It was funny, adventurous, and extremely heartwarming. Creating a book blurb, while still technically writing, is closer to a science than an art. In this article, we will talk about some features of a good blurb and share tips on how to write a compelling book blurb. For an excellent example of a books comic tone caught in the blurb, read the blurbs of jeff strands novels at fictionwise or amazon. Sometimes coming up with the right words for a book blurb can be more stressful than writing the ebook itself. To help prevent you from falling into this unfortunate group, weve put together a few tips that should help you write a winning book blurb, whether its for the latest fantasy novel or for a nonfiction selfhelp guide. Make sure you supply me with a general synopsis as well. Indie authors often say that writing the blurb for the back cover of their selfpublished book is the most difficult part of the whole process, so were glad to bring you this simple and straightforward set of guidelines from fred johnson of alli partner member standout books to help you triumph over this troublesome task the art of blurbwriting. But, if you have caught a potential readers attention, the blurb is what will sell your bookand convert readers.
This is because writers dont really understand what a blurb is meant to do. A book blurb which will arouse a readers curiosity to read the story you have worked on, but not give away twists within the story, is a quality one. How to write a great nonfiction book blurb from polly letofsky of my word publishing. How to create a back book cover blurb that sells i just published a guest post which goes into this with some examples. They have a set of twins, jesse and isa, oliver, hyacinth, and laney as well. Guide to writing book blurbs self publishing blog notion press. In addition to the example provided in lesson one of a wellwritten book blurb, im including a few examples from bestselling memoirs which have their blurbs perfected. Blurbs are brief summaries of what a reader will find on the other end of a hyperlink. In this post, three publishing editors have shared their secret behind writing the best blurb for your novel. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. I offer authors two options for book blurb writing services.
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